Guard or fender for vehicles.



No. 896,104. PATENTED AUG. 18, 1908. C. W. M. GUHLE.

GUARD 0R FENDER EUR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

r lryvENToR Z0 ATTORNEY C. W. M. GUHLE. GUARD 0R FENDER EOE VEHICLES APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 190B.

WITNESSES W UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFroE.

A 'CHARLES W. M. GUHLE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO FREDERICK J. RITTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GUARD OR FENDER FOR VEHICLES.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 18, 1908.

Application' mea January 2o, 190s. serial No. 411,594.

To 'all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CnAnLEs W. M. GUHLE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Philadelphia, `State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Guards or Fenders for Vehic es, of which the following is a full, complete, and exact disclosure.

My invention relates to protecting guards or fenders for vehicles and particularly to such devices adapted to be used with automobiles, motor cars and the like andA has for its object the preventing of injury to the vehicle, and particularly to the running gear of the same.

Asis well known in the event of a collision of a motor car with another car or with any other object the effect of the collision is generally to break the wheel's or spring the axles, or injure the radiator or projecting parts of the machine. My invention contemplates the substantial encircling ofthe running gear and the projecting parts of the vehicle with a suitably stilened protective band or guard rail located outside of the said parts, which band is adapted to receive the shock of the collision of the vehicle with any object and protect the vehicle from injury.

It is also well known that when two vehicles collide the wheels very often become locked and the axles sprung, the steering gear is often injured and the machine rendered, for the time being, at least practically useless. My invention contemplates the providing of a substantially continuous band of suitably stiifened material all around the running gear and the projecting parts of the vehicle, so that the entire machine is protected from injury arising from such accidents.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters are used throughout the various views to designate the same parts, Figure 1 is a plan view of my preferred form of my device as applied to an automobile, the outlines of the automobile being shown in dotted lines. Fig.

2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 anare details of the construction illustrating' the manner in which the protective band is supported and attached to the vehicle; Fig. 8 is a modified form of my device in which the -frame 2, the W step of the vehicle forms a part of the protective band; Fig. 9 is an outside elevational view of the form of device illustrated in Fig. 9; Fig. 10 is a detail view of one form of hinge which may be used in connection with the modification illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9.

` Referring first to the form of device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive the body 1 of the vehicle is provided with a running gear j eels 3, the radiator 4 and the Wheel or mud guards 5. Completely .encircling the running gear of the machine and axes ofv the wheels 3, I provide a protective band or guard rail 6 Which may be composed of two parts 7 and 8, the ends 7-7 and 8-8 of which are pivoted on bolts or pins 9-9 secured to' suitable braces or supports 1 0 andv 11 rigidly attached in any suitable manner to the Jfront and rear ends respectively of the machine. Between the ends 7 --7 and 8-8 of each part 7 and 8 of the band 6 are suitably arranged braces and supports 12, 13, 14

and 15.

In the form of my device shown in Figs. 1 to 7 of the drawings, the brace and support 12 may consist of a tubular ring as illustrated 1 in Fig. 5, the side of which adjacent the band being provided with a step or led e 16 upon which the bar 6 may rest when in t e position shown inFig. 2. of the band 6 and adjacent the rear of the vehicle, the brace and support 13 has a step or ledge 17 for supporting the band 6. The braces and sup orts 14 and 15 I have shown as composed o structural iron or steel'bent at their outer ends to form a pair of steps or ledges 18-18 and 19-19 for a similar purpose. I have shown the band or guard rail 6 as constructed of a channel iron, since this form of bar or band i's exceedingly stiff and adapts itself articularly Well for my puroses, but I o not wish to be construed as being limited to any particular material or to any particular shape, as it is obvious that my invention is capable of embodiment in many forms. When constructed of channel irons or similar material, however, it is desirable to thicken the guard rail 6 in -any suitable manner at the points Where itis pivoted upon the bolts 9, and also at those points at which it rests upon the braces or supports 12, 13, -14 and 15, in order that the parts 7 and 8 ofthe same may turn freely upon their -pivots 9,

Likewise at the other end' .channel bars.

and at Athe same time be in .contactv with and capable of being fastened securely to the said braces.` I have shown this thickening of the or block 20, the thickness of which is substan-` tially equal to the depth of the channel in the As before stated these lates 20 are placed between the webs of the ar at the po1nt wherever the same is supported or braced, so that when the bar is in the position shown in Fig. 2 the band will press rmly against the su port or brace at that point, and at the same time will permitthe band to be swung up above the wheels, when desired, without interfering with the webs of the channel iron. 1` Instead of using channel iron having two webs' 6-6"for the band 6 in the'machine, I may make use of angle or T-shaped iron or steel, or any other form of structural mate-` rial best adapted for any particular machine or condition. l

`I refer to fasten the parts 7 and 8 of the banr 6 in their lowermost position firmly to the braces and supports 14 and l5by passing a pinor a bolt .21 t rough the support and the bar. When the said bolts or pins 21 are re-l moved, either part 7 and 8 of the bar 6 may be swung upwardly to the position illustrated for Fig.3, to permit of ready access to the wheels and running gear of the machine. v

, With thestep22 of the vehicle slightly above the upper edge of the band 6, my protective "ban or yguard-will'in no wise interfere with the entering or alighting from the vehicle. l

In the form'of mydevice illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 I may employ the step 22 as a part of the protective band, infwhich event I preferably provide ythe step on its front edge with an angle iron 23 having a depending llange 24, the depth of the flange belng substantially equal'to the width of the band 6", this angle ironl 23 being in fact a partof the protective band 62. In order to permitof the swinging of the protective band away from the wheels of the vehicle, I preferably mount the forward and rear portions 24 and 25 of the band 62 on the vertical pivot bolts 26 and 27, so that the said ends may be swungfoutwardly from the vehicle in` the manner indicated in Fig. 8, by merely removing the bolts 28 from the ends of the portions 24 or 25 ofthe band .62 from the angle` bar 23 of the step 22.

In Figs. 8,9 and 10 I have'illustrated a form of hingeor pivot which may be used with this form of my device, although the details of this construction may be varied considerably without departing'froxn the s .ipirit and scope of my invention. In the sai iigures upon the forward and rear braces 10 and 11, I'secure plates 29, each having an futwardly extending luglSQnd upon o o.. site sides of thisy lug I secure, by means o p the pintle or bolts 26-27, suitable knuckles 32.y i

strike, as it were,iglancing blow and reduce the liability of injury tothe machine. l

With the ard or fender of the characte above descri ed, it will be apparent that it would be impossible for any vehicles coming toetherto lock their wheels one with the ot er and the liability of injury to the wheels, the axles, steering gear or protecting parts of the vehicle is great y reduced.

Mang changes may be made in m ard or fen er to adapt it .for use with rliiigelient makes of vehicles Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, so-lon as they fall within the scope of the appende claims.

Having thus fully describedmy invention, what Iclaim and desire to protect by `Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

1. The combination with the running gear of a vehicle, of protective means extending outside of said running gear, parts ofsaid meansv being pivoted to said vehicle to per-4 mit the same to be swung clear above the runnln gear.

2.' T e combination with a vehicle, of `a Ashape 1n cross section'extending around and ou-tsideof therunning gear of said vehicle.

3. The combination with a running gear ofv a vehicle, of a substantially continuous band extending around said running gearand outside of the wheels thereof, and meansto permit the arts of said band adjacent the wheels to be swung clear above the wheels.

. 4. The combination with the running gear of, a vehicle, of a braced and stiifened protective band entirely encircling the running gear of the wheels thereof, said band being ocated substantially in the plane ofthe axes of said vehicle, and means to ermit a section of said band to swing clear a ove one of the said wheels.

5; The combination with a vehicle, of asubstantially continuous protective band extending around and outside of the wheels of said vehicle, said band being hinged to dividethe same into substantially two parts i upon opposite sides of the vehicle res ectively to permit either part of said ba'n to be swung clear of the wheels.

` 6.r The combination withavehicle,of asubi tective means extending tending substantially longitudinally of thev 7. The combination with a vehicle, of a substantially continuous protective band, of channel shape in cross section extending around and outside of the wheels of said vehicle, said band being formed in two parts, each art being ivoted to the vehicle to permit t e same to e swung clear of the wheels.

8. The combination with a vehicle, of prooutside of the wheels of said vehicle, said means being formed in parts, the parts adjacent the wheels being pivoted to said vehicle substantially midway between the sides thereof, and means to brace and stiflen said band and to secure the same to said vehicle.

9. The combination with a vehicle, of protective means extending outside of the wheels of said vehicle, said means being pivoted at the forward and rear ends of said vehicle upon an axis extending substantially longitudinally of the vehicle, and means between said pivots and attached to said vehicle to support said band.

10. The combination with a vehicle, of a protective band extending outside of the wheels of said vehicle, said band being pivoted at the forward and rear ends of the vehicle upon an axis extending longitudinally thereof, and means between said pivots and attached to said vehicle to support and brace said band.

11. The combination with a vehicle, of supports extendin forwardly and rearwardly from said ve 'cle and attached thereto, a protective band composed of two parts hinged to said supports, and means to hold said parts substantially in alinement with the axes of said wheels.

12. The combination with a vehicle, of supports extending forwardly and rearwardly from said vehicle and attached thereto, a protective band composed of two 'parts hinged to said su ports, means to hold said parts substantial y in alinement with the axes of said wheels, and means to fasten said band to said su orts.

13. The com mation with a vehicle, and a rotective band extendin around said ve- 'cle and outside of the w eels thereof, said band being pivoted at the front and rear of said vehicle to permit the parts of said band adjacent the wheels to be swung clear of said wheels.

14. The combination with a vehicle, of a protective band hinged to the front and rear of said vehicle and extending substantially all around the same, of means to support said band in substantial alinement with the axes of the wheels of the vehicle, and means tov fasten said band to said sup ort.

15. The combination wit a vehicle, of a 'protective band having an inwardly extending web, a lateral brace for said bandbeing made substantially as thick as the depth of said web at the point adjacent said brace.

16. The combination with a vehicle, of a substantially continuous protective band extendin around and outside the wheels of said ve icle, said band being formed in parts,

the parts adjacent the wheels bein pivoted to said vehiclesubstantially mi way between the sides thereof, and means to stiifen andbrace said band and to secure the same to said vehicle.

17. The combination with a vehicle, of a protective band extending outside of the wheels of said vehicle, said band being mounted on pivots at the forward and rear,

ends of said vehicle substantially midway betweenthe sides thereof, and means between said pivots and attached to said vehicle to support said band.

p 18. The combination with a vehicle, of a protective band extendin around and outside of the running ear o said vehicle, said v band being provide with a flange extending at an angle to the body portion of said band.

19. The combination with a vehicle, of protective means extending outside of a wheel of said vehicle and below the upper edge of said wheel, said means being mounted upon said vehicle to be swung above the upper edge of the Wheel to permit of the withdrawal of the wheel.

20. In a vehicle, the combination with running gear and a body, of protective means extending outside of and below the upper edge of one of the wheels of the vehicle, and hinged to said body to be swung up above the upper edge of said wheel.

21. In a vehicle, the combination with running gear and a body, of protective means extending outside of and below the upper edge of one of the wheels of the vehicle, and hinged to said body intermediate the sides thereof, to be swung up above the upper edge of said wheel.

22. The combination with a vehicle, of protective means extending outside of a wheel thereof and mounted upon said vehicle to swing u on an axis extending substantially longitu nal of saidvehicle.

23. The combination with a` vehicle, of protective means extendingV outside of a wheel thereof and pivoted to said vehicle, intermediate the sides thereof. l

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 17th da of January, A. D. 1908.

C RLES W. M. GUHLE.

Witnesses: v

ALs'roN B MoUL'roN, ALEXANDER PARK. 

